Hippodamia of the Lapiths

Overview

Hippodamia of the Lapiths is the bride of Pirithous whose wedding feast becomes the setting for the Centauromachy.

Generation

Great Heroic Age

Symbols

wedding, Lapiths, Centauromachy

Notes

Hippodamia of the Lapiths is the bride of King Pirithous.

She should not be confused with other mythological women named Hippodamia, especially Hippodamia associated with Pelops.

Her wedding becomes the setting for the Centauromachy.

The Centaurs attend the celebration as guests, but violence erupts when one of them attempts to seize Hippodamia and other women are attacked.

The Lapiths resist immediately.

Theseus fights beside Pirithous and the other Lapith heroes.

Hippodamia therefore stands at the centre of a story about the collapse of hospitality and marriage ritual into violence and battle.